Category: CVs, applications and interviews

Don’t forget your ‘soft skills’ on your CV

Posted on by jenny.baxter

Hi, I’m Maisie, a Senior Fire Engineer at OFR Consultants. Fire engineering is a discipline within the built environment – we work with clients, architects, engineers and consultants to bring buildings to life. 

A photo of Maisie standing outside smiling,

I was just starting my final year of an Integrated Masters in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Bristol when I realised I needed to decide what I wanted to do next – and honestly I had no idea. I knew what I didn’t like, but wasn’t sure what I did like! I knew I liked talking to people and engaging with real world projects so I started looking at consultancy, found fire engineering by accident and it’s been the best career for me. I love my role and am so glad I ended up here, but looking back I wish I’d had a little confidence in my ‘soft skills’. 

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Ghosting: an age-old problem or a new phenomenon?

Posted on by Careers Service

How to deal with being “ignored” whilst job hunting

Imagine this scenario. You see a job advertised for a large company. It is advertised as an entry level job, and you are delighted that you meet all the criteria.

Actually, the more you look at it, the more you realise that you are the perfect candidate, and this is the job for you.

You clear your calendar and designate three whole days to writing the application. Dinner with Gran will have to wait.

You get it done. You get it proofread. You lap up the praise. It is perfect. You send it well in advance of the deadline. And you wait for your invite to interview.

And you wait. And you wait. You refresh your email a million times.  You check that your phone is working. You google “How long does it take to be called to an interview?” You ask ChatGPT what it would do.

Not hearing back after submitting a job application is far from a new phenomenon, and many people will have tales similar to this one. However, frequency of occurrence doesn’t stop the pain of a ghosting (as many internet daters can contest to!). And it is not just initial applications – it can happen at every stage of the hiring process.

So, what do you do if you find yourself ghosted? Below are a few suggestions that might just help you out:

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A guide to our guides

Posted on by Careers Service

Thinking about careers can easily slip to the bottom of the list when you’ve got other things on. The uncertainty of “what next” can be de-motivating and sometimes it can be simpler to just not think about it. 

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Overcoming career anxiety

Posted on by Careers Service

It’s completely normal to feel anxious about career planning or future job prospects. We’re here to help!

Two students smiling and looking at worksheet

We understand the importance of seeking support and know that everyone’s needs are different. We’re here to help you navigate a sometimes daunting path, and help you build confidence in your own decision-making.

Sometimes just talking through your worries can be useful but we can also recommend some practical tips and suggest some next steps, which can make all the difference.

First things first – feeling anxious at times is perfectly normal! For many students and graduates, there can be a feeling of being lost. If you are finding things hard at university, whether it’s with your studies, personal circumstances or anything else, you can book an appointment with a Wellbeing Adviser to work out a way forward. This is free and open to all undergraduate and postgraduate students.

Below are some common concerns we encounter that can create career anxiety and helpful strategies to overcome them.

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What’s your USP? Marketing yourself with applications

Posted on by Careers Service
group of students laughing

If all products were the same, how would we choose between them?

A unique selling point – USP – is the attribute that makes a product different from and more attractive than its competitors.

Just as big brands need to hook buyers in with their USPs, job applicants need to find ways to catch the eye of recruiters. So, when applying for jobs, this means showing employers what makes you different, ensuring you stand out from the crowd.

Job descriptions and person specifications outline the skills and qualifications required of an ideal candidate, and in some cases additional ‘desirable’ qualities. However, the jobs market is a competitive place, and many applicants will meet the essential criteria, i.e. many people will be equally qualified to do the job.

This can make the shortlisting process quite difficult – between equally competent candidates, who should get the job? Therefore, as an applicant, you need to be able to offer something extra to differentiate yourself from the others and break that tie. You are aiming to tick all the essential boxes and offer additional benefits too!

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Top tips: personal statements for postgraduate study

Posted on by Careers Service

So you’ve made the decision to apply for a postgraduate course and have researched the course and the University, what’s next?

A personal statement is your opportunity to showcase what you have to offer and convince the admissions tutor(s) that you have the motivation, relevant knowledge, and academic capability to successfully complete the course and reflect well on the institution.

Remember, when you have finished the first draft you can have it reviewed by one of our advisers via our Careers information and advice appointments. These can be booked via mycareer.

Best of luck!

Jenny Livesey, Careers Adviser

Before you begin

  • Check whether the University admissions team has written instructions on what to include, word count, etc.
  • Unless they say otherwise, we recommend you write about 500 words, which is approximately 1 A4 page.
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How Student Circus saves you time in your global job search

Posted on by Careers Service

We know there are lots of competing demands on international students’ time that can make your job search difficult.

The Careers Service has partnered with job portal Student Circus to help. Here’s how to make the best use of this platform, which is completely free to our students and alumni.  

Quickly find pre-filtered UK sponsored jobs 

Student Circus lists jobs across a range of sectors which employers are willing and able to sponsor under the Skilled Worker route. So rather than contacting HR to check if sponsorship is provided, you can focus your energy on writing high-quality applications.  

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Davitt Jones Bould Law: Undergraduate placements and assessment centre advice 

Posted on by Careers Service

Davitt Jones Bould, the largest specialist real estate law firm in the UK, have opened their Undergraduate Placement applications. They have written for us about their placement opportunities and provided some application advice too. 

Davitt Jones Bould logo.

The placement is truly like no other as we deliberately don’t put you through a structured programme. Instead, you will be working in line with the real-time demands of the business, giving you experience of what running a business is really like.

You will work directly with a talented team of Davitt Jones Bould people, including colleagues in the Business Services Centre, lawyers based all over the UK and Davitt Jones Bould’s leadership team. You will be given responsibility straightaway for a wide range of tasks – some will play to your strengths, and some will challenge you to learn new skills.

You will be provided with dedicated on the job mentoring and training, as well as access to Davitt Jones Bould’s wider training programmes and courses. 

Find out more about undergraduate placements and apply here.

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Davitt Jones Bould Law: Undergraduate placements and virtual interview advice 

Posted on by Careers Service

Davitt Jones Bould, the largest specialist real estate law firm in the UK, have opened their Undergraduate Placement applications. They have written for us about their placement opportunities and provided some application advice too. 

Davitt Jones Bould logo.

The placement is truly like no other as we deliberately don’t put you through a structured programme. Instead, you will be working in line with the real-time demands of the business, giving you experience of what running a business is really like.

You will work directly with a talented team of Davitt Jones Bould people, including colleagues in the Business Services Centre, lawyers based all over the UK and Davitt Jones Bould’s leadership team. You will be given responsibility straightaway for a wide range of tasks – some will play to your strengths, and some will challenge you to learn new skills.

You will be provided with dedicated on the job mentoring and training, as well as access to Davitt Jones Bould’s wider training programmes and courses. 

To find out more information about undergraduate placements and apply today, click here.

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Davitt Jones Bould Law: Undergraduate placements and cover letter advice

Posted on by Careers Service

Davitt Jones Bould, the largest specialist real estate law firm in the UK, have opened their Undergraduate Placement applications. They have written for us about their placement opportunities and provided some application advice too. 

Davitt Jones Bould logo.

The placement is truly like no other as we deliberately don’t put you through a structured programme. Instead, you will be working in line with the real-time demands of the business, giving you experience of what running a business is really like.

You will work directly with a talented team of Davitt Jones Bould people, including colleagues in the Business Services Centre, lawyers based all over the UK and Davitt Jones Bould’s leadership team. You will be given responsibility straightaway for a wide range of tasks – some will play to your strengths, and some will challenge you to learn new skills.

You will be provided with dedicated on the job mentoring and training, as well as access to Davitt Jones Bould’s wider training programmes and courses. 

To find out more information about undergraduate placements and apply today, click here.

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